Case: CRIPA Investigation of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department

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Case Summary

On October 13, 2021, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division announced that it had opened a statewide investigation into the conditions in five secure juvenile correctional facilities run by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. The investigation was intended to determine whether Texas provided children reasonable protection from excessive use of restraints, excessive use of isolation, and physical and sexual abuse by staff and other residents. It also examined whether Texas provided adequate mental health care to young people in the facilities. The investigation was conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Person Act (CRIPA) and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and was conducted jointly with the U.S. Attorneys' offices in the Western, Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of Texas.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Summary Authors

Justin Hill (10/14/2021)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

No documents yet available via the Clearinghouse.

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:35 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

U.S. Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Texas Juvenile Justice Department, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Restraints : chemical

Restraints : physical

Policing:

Excessive force

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Confinement/isolation

Sexual abuse by residents/inmates

Sex w/ staff; sexual harassment by staff

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Medical/Mental Health:

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run